AFL SuperCoach: Round 5 rookie trade guide, best cash cows, bubble boys

CASH cows, bubble boys, rookie keepers. Do we keep, upgrade or downgrade? The ultimate guide to trading ahead of Round 6. PODCAST

Matt Dea is one of the most popular trade-outs this week. Picture: Hamish Blair

DECISION time is getting closer.

Our cash cows are mooing along nicely but in the coming weeks a decision will have to be made ... keep, upgrade, downgrade.

It’s time to call time on some but others are still serviceable.

Importantly, we’ve got some decent downgrade targets emerging to ensure our bank balance remains healthy.

We’ve looked at the big names who are starting to reach the end of their potential.

Plus, a gaze into the future to see which rookies are coming on and can help you take a shot at the $50,000 main prize.

Ben Kennedy is failed to score more than 64 in the last three weeks. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

TRADE TIME?

BEN KENNEDY ($287,900, Mid-Fwd) Melbourne

Breakeven: 51

This could be the week to move “BenKen” on. Scores of 50, 64 and 54 have erased his money-making potential and on-field value.

MATT DEA ($309,600, Def) Essendon

Breakeven: 67

Normally, we’d suggested Dea’s service has come to and end but Essendon face Carlton this week and we’re backing Dea to rebound.

GET THE BEST SUPERCOACH TRADE AND CASH COW ADVICE IN THE SUPERCOACHES BOX PODCAST

JACOB WEITERING ($363,400, Def) Carlton

Breakeven: 79

A rare beast. A rookie with long-term potential. There are several other trade options this week and Weitering has been a key part of SuperCoach defences.

GEORGE HEWETT ($182,100, Mid) Sydney

Breakeven: 18

If you’ve held on to him, congratulations. The Swans midfielder’s breakeven has dropped back to 18. Put him on a short leash through.

MARCUS ADAMS ($333,900, Def-Fwd) Western Bulldogs

Breakeven: 43

Arguably even better than Weitering, Adams has defence-forward dual position status and real on-field value. Plenty of time before you need to act here.

Marcus Adams has been an excellent SuperCoach selection. Picture: Colleen Petch

RYAN DAVIS ($178,900, Mid) Gold Coast

Breakeven: 17

The mature-age Sun was “rested” in Round 5 but even when he returns, hold. His breakeven is manageable so he’s still got a little bit of money to make.

DARCY PARISH ($326,500, Mid) Essendon

Breakeven: 54

The Bombers young gun is on a very short leash. We’ll back him to bounce back against Carlton but that breakeven is starting to get worrying.

TOM PAPLEY($231,700, Fwd) Sydney

Breakeven: 34

We were wrong, Tom. We advised trading him last week but the small forward made us look a fool. That said, he’s still at the top of the downgrade list.

CALLUM MILLS($305,100, Mid) Sydney

Breakeven: 1

A 94 in Round 5 has him well placed to reach the $400k mark. He’s still an on-field option and future upgrade target.

CLAYTON OLIVER($271,700, Mid) Melbourne

Breakeven: 28

The young Demon looks to be tiring and while he’s still got a relatively low breakeven, Christian Petracca’s emergence puts his senior place in jeopardy.

Callum Mills has become a key part of Sydney’s line-up. Picture: Phil Hillyard

BUBBLE BOYS

TOM LEE ($123,900, Def) St Kilda

Scores: 61 & 72

Breakeven: -60

The No.1 downgrade target this week. Lee is the second most traded-in player behind Luke Parker and the Matt Dea-Tom Lee trade is the fourth most popular overall.

TIM O’BRIEN ($123,900, Fwd) Hawthorn

Scores: 72 & 50

Breakeven: -49

It’s hard to tell how much time O’Brien will get in the Hawks’ forward line but so far, so good. O’Brien has scored well and if the Hawks keep winning, expect him to keep producing.

JAYDEN HUNT ($123,900, Fwd) Melbourne

Scores: 40 & 51

Breakeven: -18

Hunt’s job security is arguably the best of these options but his scoring potential is a major issue. The Demons have had two stellar wins and Hunt has only produced 40 and 51.

LIAM SUMNER ($123,900, Mid-Fwd) Carlton

Scores: 45 & 37

Breakeven: -9

The former Giant has failed to impress in his first two games as a Blue. You’d think he’ll need to up his output just to stay in the Carlton line-up.

CONOR McKENNA ($189,900, Fwd) Essendon

Scores: 40 & 45

Breakeven: 26

A great story for the Bombers but his SuperCoach value is extremely limited. No thanks.

Still on the bubble: Jayden Short, Josh Dunkley, Brent Macaffer, Jade Gresham, Eli Templeton and Nick Kommer

Peter Wright was the top scorer in Gold Coast’s Round 5 loss. Picture Adam Head

KEEP AN EYE ON ...

PETER WRIGHT ($187,100, Fwd) Gold Coast

First game score: 142

MASON COX ($117,300, Ruck-Fwd) Collingwood

First game score: 75

JOSH SMITH ($102,400, Mid) Collingwood

First game score: 72

DARCY TUCKER ($117,300, Def) Fremantle

First game score: 67

DANIEL CURRIE ($163,200, Ruck) Gold Coast

First game score: 61

SAM GRIMLEY ($123,900, Ruck-Fwd) Essendon

First game score: 52

Originally published as AFL SuperCoach: Round 5 rookie trade guide, best cash cows, bubble boys